Hands Helping Anglers Event - June 21 - Sign Up NOW!!!

[caseycook]

The Hands Helping Anglers Event will be held June 21, 2008. The North Florida Gulf Fishing Club is helping to organize the event. The event will run from 7 a.m. – 1 p.m. We need as many volunteers as we can get - this is one of our Club Service Projects and is a great way to give back to the community!

What is HHA?
HHA is a partnership of several groups – the North Florida Gulf Fishing Club, Publix, several local Rotary clubs – that get together one Saturday a year to take physically handicapped adults fishing.

What can you do to help?
Volunteer your time and boat. Some of these people get to fish once a year…some of us are lucky enough to go more than once a week. This is the one day each year that several of these people look forward to. It is an awesome way to give back to the community and have fun at the same time.

Who can I contact to volunteer?
Send me a PM, reply to this post, or send an email an tcaseycook@gmail.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; It’s important to get this date in your calendar now…it’s something you don’t want to miss!

Who can help? You don't need a boat to help...you can also volunteer to be a "mate" and ride with someone else.

Captains
1) CC
2) JT51
3) Otto B Fishin
4) JonBoat
5) Steve Stinson
6) Mook
7) Capt. Charlie
8 - Bad Behavior
9) CatchYourLimit and Capt. Tom
10)

Mates
1) Salty Tiger
2) GaJoey

[Jumptrout51]

22 people have read this post and no one has posted to participate yet.
I thought BBF members were community activist.

[salty tiger]

No boat, but I'll help any way I can.

[caseycook]

Thanks ST!

Who else is in?

[GAJOEY]

I'd be glad to head down there to help on someones boat, at the landing or whatever.I am not experienced enough to take my boat out and be responsible for someone else at this time for safety reasons. Give me a year or so.but I'd be glad to help.

[Steve Stinson]

I am in. I have also been contacted by my passenger from last year wanting to know when the event was.

Captain = Steve Stinson
Client = Calvert Durden

I will contact Calvert and take care of his transportation to and from the event.

Let me know what else I can do to help.
Steve Stinson

[caseycook]

Thanks SS and GaJoey!! I'll be in touch with details soon.

[Mook!]

Casey - more details, like where, and what kind of accommodations will we need to make on our boats? Will there be folks in wheelchairs that need a lot of room? Folks who don't? Just a few things I was wondering about so prolly other people were too. I'll help out somehow - wouldn't mind bringing my boat but it's small and not real comfortable prolly for someone with limited mobility. A hearing impaired person on the other hand, would do just fine I'm sure. Anyhow, just thought I'd chime in with some things I'm sure a lot of people may be wondering about.

Also, more people will come if they think there will be punch and pie.

I don't see a Jumptrout on the list! what the eff?!?!

[Mook!]

oops never mind about ole grumpy..I'm posting from the cell phone and missed him right there at #2...

[caseycook]

Casey - more details, like where, and what kind of accommodations will we need to make on our boats? Will there be folks in wheelchairs that need a lot of room? Folks who don't? Just a few things I was wondering about so prolly other people were too. I'll help out somehow - wouldn't mind bringing my boat but it's small and not real comfortable prolly for someone with limited mobility. A hearing impaired person on the other hand, would do just fine I'm sure. Anyhow, just thought I'd chime in with some things I'm sure a lot of people may be wondering about.

Also, more people will come if they think there will be punch and pie.

I don't see a Jumptrout on the list! what the eff?!?!

Where?
You can launch from anywhere. Many will launch from either the Fort or Shields since some of the participants will be in wheel chairs. One of the local Rotary Clubs is in charge of transportation. They will pick your angler up and do their best to meet you either at the Ramp, JBT, etc. Many of our volunteers have been fishing with the same people for years...these people will often pick their guests up at their house and bring them home. The Rotary Club will work with you to make it as hassle-free as possible.

What kind of accomodations will you need to make?
Some people will be in wheel chairs...these people might need a boat with an open deck - like a pontoon boat. Others will be mobile and would do just fine in any type of fishing boat.

Will there be food?
One of the other local Rotary Clubs is handling all of the food. Publix is a big sponsor of the event and donates a bunch of food / goodies...there's almost too much food. You won't need to provide anything as far as food - just fishing supplies.

Details are still being ironed out, but I'll talk about it at the next meeting. Thanks for your interest and for volunteering!

Maybe some of the people in the past who have done it can chime in about their experiences? I know Steve Stinson and Sir Reel might have some stuff to add...

Who else can help?

[Sir reel]

Casey is doing a pretty good job of providing information so I'm not sure if it will help, but here's my $.02 from the past 5 years. I've had the same husband and wife each time so we've developed a relationship and know what to expect. The information that Casey has shared is correct as far as I know. The "typical" procedures are, that the participants will arrive under their own power or be transported to the location where the captain is to launch. You will be amazed at how resourcefull and independent these anglers are. Publix has in the past furnished a considerable amount of food in the form of bagged lunches with sandwiches, snacks, canned soda's and bottled water. The food has arrived with the angler. You would need to furnish the cooler and ice, bait, gear, etc. There has ALWAYS been plenty to eat! As we did for the TAKF event, I would suggest that you indicate the size and style of your boat. Some folks need protection from the sun so you might keep that in mind or specifiy that you do or do not have a top. If you can handle a wheel chair then let it be known. There has not been any established time for a return in the past. It would depend on the individuals transportation situation if anything. Shields is the best fail safe location for launching. Shields has in the past agreed to exempt the launch fee for participants. One of the things that makes Shields so good is that the dock area has a ramp that is conducive to wheel chair access where they can be wheeled right to the side of your boat. In addition, there are generally others there that can help with the physical part of getting someone into and out of your boat if needed. I would strongly recommend that a Captain have a mate to help. Some of the anglers have other family members who will be going with them and understand the limitations and needs of the challenged angler. I come prepared to clean and bag any catch if they want to take fish home. I remember how intimidating it was, the idea of taking someone fishing who had some sort of physical challenge but just as many folks have just experienced with the TAKF event, we have a tendency to be overly anxious in that regard and you will not find a more appreciative guest angler ever on your boat than one of these folks.

[caseycook]

Thanks for the info, SR!

[BAD BEHAVIOR]

oops never mind about ole grumpy..I'm posting from the cell phone and missed him right there at #2...

Easy mistake, he's never that high up on the list come tourney day. Put BB on the list. Thats a long ways out but if nothing drastic comes up, Ill be there with Bad Behavior!!

[CatchYourLimit]

Casey... Let me check Tom and CYL's schedule and see if the company pontoon is available.

[caseycook]

Thanks guys! CYL, I'll talk to either you or Capt. Tom about it next Wed.

BB, we wanted to make the date known as soon as possible so people could get it on their schedules. This way (in theory) we won't be scrambling a week out from the event trying to find boats.

We've got 20+ anglers who we need to find a boat for...who else can help?